Laminate trimmers

I’ve had my eye on the Bosch Colt for a while. Also, the Rigid was a best value in one of the recent reviews if I remember correctly.

I only own full-size routers at the moment.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Hi Tom,

I have the dewalt and it’s a worthy little tool. When I purchased it, it wasn’t able to accept guide bushings. That is the one feature that I would look towards having. Also, it’s base is REALLY small so I find it to be most useful for flush trimming. They are quite controllable to even hold on the edge of a 3/4” board. As for any real grunt work, it doesn’t have the ponies. Also, for doing any round overs, I much prefer using an offset base on a full sized router just to maintain control. I like having it in my shop as it’s the “right tool for the job,” from time to time, but it also plays the role of, “trying to find something to do with it.”

I think the Bosch rates the highest and the Ridgid rates best value, but check on that guide bushing thing as it might be a perfect router for doing dovetails in smaller pieces on a jig as it’s less to balance on most dt jigs.

Just my thoughts.

Cheers!

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

I have the PC version with all of the separate bases for trimming laminate overlap to give even seams etc. I don’t use it much but it’s handy.

I also have a Hitachi. It looks like it might be sold now as a Trend Router, they look the same. It’s a small router with soft start and it’s also has a plunge base with a full size base. It’s useful for using for smaller applications like lettering with letter kits etc.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

My vote would be for the Colt VS with the bases.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EJX202/ref=wl_it_dp/102-4899244-3158534?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1VNNVLTT8EL1Z&colid=9KF1ZHCSKI41

I don’t think Lowe’s has the kit, just the router. Or you could buy my used Porter-Cable Laminate Trim router, so that I don’t feel like a conspicuous consumptor, and I’ll get the kit ;^D

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

A change on my post. It is not a Hitachi router it is a Frued Router but everyelse is the same. It is also a Variable speed I just got an e-mail from Klingspor with the router on sale for 79.95

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

Hello Tom,

I have a Porter Cable, and I use it about 25% of the time versus 75% one of my full size ones.
It is nice since you can use it one handed and does work great for hinge mortising.
Works good for trimming veneers also.
I don’t think there is a lot of need to buy an expensive one though.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

Thanks to everyone for your helpful insights. All of your comments are greatly appreciated.

Wayne, Aren’t Rigid’s sold at Home Depot?

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

I use one just about every day. The Dewalt and Bosch both had bases that broke. First they cut at a 90 deg. then at 85 deg. then they just broke off. The Porta-cable is supported on both sides of the bit and has held up much better. They will probably stand up to personnal use.

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

Thanks Dennis. Gary had said that he liked the Porter Cable also, and it was reasonably priced on Amazon.com.

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

Rigid is sold at home depot. I’ll dig around my Magazine stack and see if I can find the review.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Thanks Wayne!

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

If you buy it at Amazon use LumberJocks link to Amazon and Martin gets a cut to keep this web site going. Click on the Woodworking Store.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

Karson, I’ll do it. (you are serious, right?)

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

He is. Use the woodworking store link above.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Tom,
I have the Bosch and love it. I probably use it as much if not more than my full size router. I would be it again with out doubt!

-- http://rjoneswoodworks.com/

I was in the market for a laminate trimmer router last year. I checked one of my woodworking magazines which did a comparison test. The BOSCH COLT came out first, with the RIDGID and PC as second. I favored the Ridgid, with its lifetime warranty and good price. BUT… and here is teh strange part … I bought one from MLCS (www.mlcswoodworking.com), the Matvel 40 becase of all the extras they included.

Good luck on your choice.

God Bless,
Hawg

-- Saving barnwood from the scrapyards

Thanks for the tip, Hawg.

For us non-professionals, that may be a good one to at least start with at $80. How do you like it? Does it do everything you want it to? Are you finding that you use it quite a bit?

Are any of the “extras” something that you use?

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

OK guys, which one looks better to you:

This one: http://www.woodworkingshop.com/cgi-bin/631081EA/mac/additmdtl.mac/showItemDetail?item=TD20001&sku1=Y&shipRemaining=0&daysBetween=0&daysBetweenFix=0&monthsBetween=0

Or this one: http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/air_router.html

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

I just took a closer look at the Colt.
Very well thought out machine and it takes templates too.
That is one of the main reasons I am jonesing for a light router right now.

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

What is the general consensus on variable speed vs single speed? Do you use the variable speed feature that much?

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

Of these (2), which one looks better?

Trend T3 Router

or

MLCS Marvel 40 3-in1

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

Tom, your llinks don’t seem to be working over here.
Get right on the product page before you copy the link.

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

Sorry about the link to Klingspors. I was right on the product page for the Trend T3, but when I copy the link, it won’t work.

Let’s try these:

Trend T3

MLCS Marvel 40 3-in-1

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

Yep Tom that works here just fine.
This is truly and apples and orange choice:
The Trend is varialble speed with accomodation for three shank sizes and templates.

The MLCS is 30,000 rpm—turn it on and hang on.
All the accessories appear to be plastic.

There is a price difference and were it me I would pay the difference to have more options with bit speed.
A small diameter bit will rotate at 30,000 rpm with incident where a large bit has much more travel surface and can be diffcult to control at 30M.
I think I’m stiill partial to the Colt because it seems to be “engineered”.
If you really just need a cheapy look at something along this line. It’s toss away but maybe adequate.

p.s. watch out for runout on the less expensive tools.

There is nothing in this world that the Chinese will not make a little cheaper and a little poorer.
Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

Bob, Which Colt would you recommend – the variable or single speed.

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

I would think VS Klingspore at the www.woodworkingshop.com has it at 129 and the 1 speed at 99.00

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

Here are amazon links to the VS….

Low cost option
http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-Factory-Reconditioned-Variable-Speed-Router-PR20EVSK/dp/B000ANRZE6/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/104-1817463-2397506?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1182987897&sr=8-3

Medium
http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-PR20EVSK-Horsepower-Variable-Router/dp/B000ANQHTA/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/104-1817463-2397506?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1182987897&sr=8-2

All the bells and whistles
http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-PR20EVSNK-Installers-Horsepower-Variable/dp/B000EJX202/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-1817463-2397506?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1182987897&sr=8-1

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Time to buy the Bosch…

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

Always try to buy variable speed when available.
You never know what size of bit you may want to use in the future and this gives you the option.
Using a large surface bit in a fixed speed machine can be very dangerous and often damage the project to boot. You can also burn your wood with too much speed and or too deep a cut.

It’s just a small cry at the cash register and soon forgotten with the better tool.
Just give up a couple of “double lattes” a week and your done! <g>

Cheers
bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

Thanks for the sound advice from all of you. I have learned a lot. I guess I’ll go with the Bosch – that seems to be the consensus here.

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

Hold on a bit, Tom. Do you plan to make patern cuts using a bushing? If so, be aware that the Bosch uses proprietary bushings, not the PC-style that most other routers use. This means that you need to buy an adaptor and their router bushings that can only be used on Bosch routers.

The Marvel has metal optional bases. The clear base is, of course, plastic.

If you do not buy the Marvel, I prefer the Ridgid. It has plenty of power, a lifetime warranty, and uses PC bushings. And… it can be easily found at Home Depot. Just my 2 cents. I truly hope you will be happy with your decision.

I am off to make another 6-foot rabbet!
God Bless,
Hawg

-- Saving barnwood from the scrapyards

Thanks Hawk, those are good considerations. I bet the proprietary equipment is not cheap either. Mot also mentioned that the guide bushings were something that he wished he had on his DeWalt.

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

Just a quick note that the aftermarket Bosch base does use the PC bushings. I think my base was like $30 or something like that at Rockler. I do agree that the standard base does not, good thought:)

-- http://rjoneswoodworks.com/

OK, I bought my “laminate trimmer / trim router / palm router” based upon the advice of my fellow L J’s. The one I purchased was the Bosch Colt variable speed. I know that I’m going to like this thing and use it a lot. Thanks to all of you for your helpful comments!

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

Let us know in a few months how you feel about it. I may put one on my list.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

Bob, I will do that ;^D

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

Yes Tom, I’ll be looking for the “Tom’s Tool Test” after you work with it for a while. You even get your own graphic to use.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

Fantastic Doug! How did you know that blue was my favorite color. Look out Norm Abrams ;^D

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

Now if I can only get the major manufacturers of quality tools to donate items to be tested – that would be sweet!

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

Write a spec review and submit it. You never know what might happen. Maybe you get published and then you get asked to do more and the tools start showing up on your doorstep. ;-)

-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN

By the way, this was a great discussion. I’ve been looking at the VS Colt for some time an it was interesting to get the perspectives on the Rigid and PC.

-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN